Posted on 07/28/2007 6:20:52 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Thompsons Race Hasnt Quite Begun, but Turmoil Has By SUSAN SAULNY
Former Senator Fred D. Thompson has yet to make a formal declaration that he is running for president, but already his noncampaign campaign has gone through its first shake-up.
A week of personnel turnover that extended from his campaign-manager-in-waiting down to volunteers raised questions about whether the Thompson camp is prepared to jump fully into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a race in which his rivals have had months to establish their campaign organizations, raise money and hone strategy.
It also ignited speculation in Republican circles about who is really in charge, and in particular about the extent of the role being played by Mr. Thompsons wife, Jeri Kehn Thompson, a former political operative.
On Tuesday, Tom Collamore, a top adviser to Mr. Thompson, stepped aside. At the same time, Mr. Thompsons political operation announced that it was bringing in Randy Enwright, a veteran Republican strategist with ties to the Bush family, and former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, to take over the prospective campaign. The next day, the organizations research director quit, and other staff members walked out.
Mr. Thompson, an actor and former senator from Tennessee, has been publicly considering a run for the presidency since March.
They are dancing on the edge, and its a pretty sharp edge, said Robert Haus, a Republican political consultant in Des Moines. In all fairness, you have to assume that the Thompson campaign is trying to quickly put bricks and mortar under some very high expectations.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
He likes to make $$$$ and doesn't invest in sinking ships??????
The NYT. Why anybody would buy it for NEWS is beyond me. They picked up a days old web item and regurgitated a story.
It would be my guess that some of these people were not on board for the long haul anyway—different things to be done, different expertise needed at different stages of organizating a national campaign.
The NYT hit-pieces begin.....
He could make money by taking the financial hit temporarily by weeding out the competition.
After all Murdock does have a P&L augmented by a multi-year forecast for income.
If it made money for him in the long run I'm sure he would consider it.
What do the Dem candidates, the Rep candidates and the MSM have in common? They all fear Fred.
That tells me that he is the most electable.
Exactly!
Alas, where have all the dictators gone when we need one today?
Not to worry.
Like any professional sports team trying to win the championship, it's common sense to sign all-star players the closer you get to the 'regular season'.
Nobody can refute the positive accomplishments of Bush's campaign managers...so IMO, this shouldn't be viewed as anything negative...regardless of how the NYT spins it.
Thompson is smart to not declare until the field narrows...especially given he's the top choice in several polls without having to abide by rules, and oversight.
Fred jumped the shark for me a month ago.
He waited too long and. largely because of that, I question his judgement.
Full disclosure - I’m with Mitt.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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There have been a lot of slurs against Mrs. Thompson regarding her appearance and role in the campaign...here is the perfect answer to the ones posting the slurs.:
One last note on this campaign. A lot has been written in the past week about Jerri Thompson and how she is in charge and pushed out Tom Collamore. First, I unequivocally believe that to be false. Again, it had been my expectation all along that Collamore would not be the lead guy come the campaign. Two, even had Jerri pushed him out we need to keep in mind that Jerri Thompson is one hell of a Republican operative. She may be the spouse's wife, but let's not forget her former day job. She was a kick ass strategist and she knows the business better than a lot of the media guys who are keyboard quarterbacking. I'd venture to say Jerri Thompson is one of the best assets for the campaign because she knows strategy, she can spot the folks who are full of crap, and she knows when to not second guess the hired hands.
I thought it was Cambodia.8>)
Well, there goes the neighborhood!
In today's atmosphere, that sounds pretty ominous...care to relieve my mind?
No, through the MSM and the DNC. ; )
Ohhhhhhhhh, how did I miss THIS????
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